Scaffold connection



g- 1953 J. A. KIRKPATRICK SCAF'FOLD CONNECTION Filed Feb. 24, 1951 INVENTOR.

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Patented Aug. 25, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,650,120 SGAFFOLD CONNECTION John A. Kirkpatrick, Zelienople, Pa., assignor to Universal Manufacturing Corp., Zelienople, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 24, 1951, Serial No. 212,665 2 Claims. (01. 287-119) 1 This invention relates to metal scaffolds, and her encircled about midway between its ends by a more particularly to the coupling pins by which collar 5. The portion of the pin below the collar is prefabricated end frames are detachably coninserted in the upper end of an end frame leg with nected together in superimposed relation. the collar resting on top of the leg. The lower end It is among the objects of this invention to v of the pin is provided with a pair of diametrically provide such a coupling pin which contains opposite holes which register with similar holes means for automatically locking it in a tubular in the surrounding leg. A suitable fastening end frame leg telescoped over it, and in which member 6, such as a bolt, extends: through the the locking means is positive in action and sim aligned holes for holding the pin in the leg. A ple in construction and operation. leg of the upper end frame is slid down over the In accordance with this invention, two or pin and rests on its collar. The upper end of more scafiold end frames, each of which inthe pin may be tapered to facilitate application cludes a pair of tubular legs, are placed on top of the upper leg to it. The coupling pins thereof each other Wi h h ir l s in alignment. The fore hold the legs of the two frames in vertical frames are locked together and prevented from 10 alignment and prevent them from slipping sliding laterally off each other by means of 0011- sideways off each other. pling pins projecting from the upper ends o To detachably lock the upper frame on the the lower legs and extending into the lower ends lower one, the coupling pins are provided with of the adjoining upper legs. The Side wall f gravity-actuated latches. The major portion of the upper part of each pin is provided with a each latch 8 is entirely inside the upper part of hole that registers with a hole in the wall of a pin and has its upper end projecting up into the surrounding leg. Inside the pin is a veran inverted U-shape bracket 9 Where it is pivtical latch, the upper end of which is pivotally otally suspended from a horizontal pivot pin or supported above the level of the registering holes. ri et l0 mounted in the bracket. The upper The center of gravity of the latch is so located parts of the ends of the bracket have extensions that the latch always tends to swing toward one II, as shown in Fig. 2, that project out into verside of the pin, and the lower end of that side tical notches cut in the upper end of the couof the latch has a lateral projection that therepling pin. The bracket is welded in these fore normally extends out through both holes notches to hold it in place, with its top flush to k p the pp r l m e ng lifted off the with the top of the pin. Rivet it is disposed pin unless the projection first is pushed back close to one end of the bracket so that the center into the pin. T e ch may be Su pended from of gravity of the latch will be between the rivet a pivot pin mounted in a bracket supported in and the opposite end of the bracket. This causes the upper end of the pin. the latch to swing toward the side of the cou- The invention is illustrated in the cc mp nys5 pling pin nearest to the rivet. This particular ing drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view of two side of the coupling pin is provided near the superimposed scaffold end frames with adjoining lower end of the latch with a hole l2 that regportions of two of their legs broken away to show isters with a similar hole l3 in the side wall of the coupling pin inside of them; Fig. 2 is an enthe encircling leg I'. The lower end of the latch f: larged fragmentary vertical section of a pair of 40 has a lateral projection I 5 that normally exthe superimposed legs showing a coupling pin tends out through the two registering holes and also in section; Fig. 3 is a plan View of the couthereby locks the upper leg on the pin. pling pin; Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the p n When the upper leg is slipped down over the taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a coupling pin, the lower end of the leg will strike plan view of a modified coupling pin; and Fig. the latch projection I5 and swing it downward 6 is a vertical section taken on the line VI-VI and into the pin until the leg can slide past it.

of Fig. 5. As soon as the hole l3 in the leg registers with Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, each of a the hole l2 in the coupling pin, gravity will cause pair of superimposed scaffold end frames has verthe latch to swing its projection out through tical tubular legs I rigidly connected by horizontal 0 the two holes. Any attempt to lift the leg from braces 2. Crossed inclined braces 3 connect the the pin will cause the lower wall of the leg hole horizontal braces. To hold the upper frame in to engage the latch projection and attempt to place on the lower frame, coupling pins 4 are used swing it upward and outward. Such a movewhich extend from the lower legs up into the ment of the latch being impossible, the leg is upper ones. Each coupling pin isatubular memprevented from being removed from the couis lifted above the latch projection, whereupon gravity will swing the latch back to its operative position. a

In the modification shown'in Figs.'5 and 6,

the tapered upper end of the hollow coupling pin F is not notched. Instead, .the latchsupporting bracket 18 is welded to the bottom of a metal plate 19 which rests on top 01" the pin, to which the plate is welded. The gravity actuated latch .29 functions in the same manner as the one just described.

It will be seen that the scaffold connection disclosed herein automatically locks itself in the tubular leg that is slid down over it, the locking being accomplished by the action of gravity. ihe lock always is in condition to operate, and. there is nothing about it to get out of order. The lock remains in looking position until pushed out of it by a workman, and will swing back t locking position as soon as released again. The locking means is simple in construction and is well protected by the coupling pin.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent'its'best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. A scaiiold connection comprising a vertical hollow pin adapted to extend from a scaffold member into a vertical tubular member, the side wall of the pin being provided with a hole and the upper end of the pin being provided with a pair of diametrically opposite vertical notches, a vertical latch inside the upper part of the pin, a bracket having its ends rigidly mounted in said notches, and a pivot pin mounted in the bracket and supporting the upper end of the latch with its center of gravity at the side of the pivot pin opposite to said hole, the lower end of the latch having a lateral projection normally extending out through said hole but adapted to be swung back into the pin.

2. A scaffold connection comprising a vertical hollow pin adapted to extend from a scaffold member into a vertical tubular member, the side wall of the pin being provided with a hole and the upperend of the pin being provided with a pair of diametrically opposite vertical notches, a vertical latch inside the upper part of the pin, and an inverted U-shape bracket having its ends projecting into said notches and rigidly mounted therein and having substantially parallel side walls extending down into the pin, and a pivot pin mounted in said bracket side walls and supporting the upper end of the latch between them with the center of gravity of the'latch located at the side of the pivot pin opposite to said hole, the lower end of the latch having a lateral projection normally extending out through said hole but adapted to be swung back into the pin.

JOHN A. KIRKPATRICK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,473,388 Rambo June 14, 1949 

